A nine-year-old girl has been shot dead in her own home by an unknown gunman who remains on the loose.
Merseyside Police officers descended on Knotty Ash, Liverpool, following the bloody rampage which left two others injured late last night.
Neighbours heard gun shots ring out in Kingsheath Avenue around 10pm before the mystery attacker fled the scene.
The victim - named by police as Olivia Pratt-Korbel - suffered a gunshot injury to the chest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
She has since sadly died.
A man also suffered gunshot wounds to his body and a woman suffered a gunshot injury to her hand during the incident inside the house.
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They have both been taken to hospital.
Olivia is believed to have been standing behind her terrified mother Cheryl when the ruthless killer fired shots indiscriminately and hit the innocent youngster.
Paying tribute, headteacher Rebecca Wilkinson at St Margaret Mary's Catholic Junior School in Huyton, said: “Olivia was a much loved member of our school. She had a beautiful smile, a lovely sense of humour, and a bubbly personality.
"She was kind hearted and would go out of her way to help others. She loved to perform and recently participated in the school production of The Wizard of Oz.
"Olivia will be missed greatly by staff and children at our school. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this extremely sad time.”
At a press conference today Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen described how a 35-year-old stranger forced his way into the family home as he was being chased by the gunman.
It comes 15 years to the day after 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot dead in Croxteth, Liverpool.
And less than 48 hours after a young university graduate was killed just a mile-and-a-half away.
Ashley Dale, 28, was not the 'intended target' when she was fatally gunned down in a garden shortly after midnight on Sunday (August 21).
Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, told BBC Breakfast: "It is completely unacceptable and this mindless violence simply has to stop.
"I think, as a city, we come together in adversity and I know people in Liverpool will be absolutely horrified this morning."
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to track down the killer.
This morning a small girl came out of her house and taped a note to the wall near where Olivia was killed.
The sign appears to read: "Wanted. Be careful. Wanted people on the loose. They have guns."
One Knotty Ash resident, who did not want to be named, said such crime "will not be tolerated around here".
"It's just been the anniversary of Rhys Jones's death.
"I believe because a child was involved people will name the culprit and he deserves to be named because he is a coward."
Residents have described hearing up to four gunshots being fired.
One, aged 19, told The Mirror near the scene this morning: "I was in the back garden having a smoke and I heard two gunshots go off at around 9.30pm/10pmish, I came out the front, there were loads of police coming down the street and then I saw three ambulances."
They said the local authority needs to step in because "it's not a safe environment for any children".
"If they spent some money giving them something to do they would get off the street and stop causing mayhem," they added.
Another local, who also did not want to be named, said the shooting made her worry for her own children.
"It's devastating. It can't carry on like this," she said.
"I have four boys and for this to happen on our own doorstep is shocking.
"The streets here are always full of kids playing."
A 57-year-old resident told The Mirror: "Everyone is terrified.
"I’ve lived here all my life and it’s actually a lovely place to live. I’m shocked by this.
"There has been a lot more antisocial behaviour in the area in recent years, there’s always cars flying up and down here, I’ve actually been out and stopped the cars, told them ‘slow down, there’s kids playing on here’.
"But for someone to start shooting wildly they need to be taken off the street.
"Everybody on the street knows them, this street is full of young kids. The side streets need to be blocked off because there’s too many getaway routes for people to run away.
"The wrong people have moved here. A house got sprayed over there not long back. If you are after someone, a particular person go after them don’t start shooting at houses with kids."
Olivia's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers, the force said.
An investigation is underway and house-to-house, CCTV and forensic enquiries are in the process of being carried out.
A cordon remains in place this morning with a large police and press presence.
Police vans and an armed officer is standing guard outside the property in question.
Residents came out of their houses to take a look at what was happening down the road, but were unable to pass the police tape.
Assistant mayor and councillor for Knotty Ash Harry Doyle said of last night's shooting: "Lots of people round here have got children and it's just absolutely devastating.
"We all went to bed last night knowing that something was happening, that there was a strong police presence, and woke up earlier this morning knowing the full detail and the fact that this little girl, nine years old, probably goes to a local school, going into Year 4 or Year 5, whole life ahead of her...it's just devastating."
He added: "The community is shook. You look around and people are on their doorsteps and they don't know quite what to think or say, you've got mums hugging their kids. It's very real, these kids will be playing out on the streets together and it's just awful."
Home Secretary Priti Patel has offered her "heartfelt condolences" to Olivia's family.
She said: "This morning, I have spoken to the chief constable for Merseyside Police about the tragic shooting in Liverpool last night.
"My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of the nine-year-old girl who has died.
"It is important that anyone with information comes forward to assist the police with their investigations.
"The force has my full support and will receive any additional resources they need."
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: “This is a truly shocking incident in which tragically a young and innocent girl has been shot and sadly died.
"Our thoughts and condolences go to her family and friends at this very difficult time. No parent should ever have to suffer the loss of a child in these dreadful circumstances.
“This crime is abhorrent and our communities must come forward and tell us who is responsible.
“This cowardly individual does not deserve to be walking the streets and I would urge those who know anything to speak to us and tell us what they know so that we can put the person responsible behind bars where they belong.
“We are carrying out a number of lines of enquiry as a matter of urgency and would ask for dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage from anyone who lives, works or was visiting the area of Kingsheath Avenue last night.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of August 22.
